Improvement in albums



A; FOERST'E.

ALBUMS.

No.188,507. Patented March ZO,-I877.

FIG

FIG- 2.

INVENTOR- e flemsce P W A N- PETERS, PHOTO-LITMOGRAPHEH, WASHINGTON. 01C.

U rfE;

'ra'rns I IMPROVEMENT lN ALBUMS.

' Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 188,507, dated March 20, 1877; application filed February 17, 1877.

Toa-ll whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT FoERs'rn, re-

siding at Berlin, Prussia, have invented an Improvement in Binding Albums and Books, of which the following is a specification:

The object of the present invention is to improve upon the construction of albums and books of a similar character, so that the leaves will, when open, lie more flat than in theordinary albums, and be less liable to be torn out of place by constant strain upon the back or binding.

The invention consists in providing an album or other book with a rigid back of a wedge shape in cross-section, to which back the leaves are connected by means of double hinges, so that the leaves will lie fiat when open without being subjected to strain,thi's being permitted by reason of the flexible connection of the hinges with the back piece and with the leaves of the album or book, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

In the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view, representing the album thrown open. Fig. 2 is a detached sectional view of several leaves with their double hinges.

It is a well-known fact that ordinary albums for photographic and other pictures, and books of a similar nature, are ill adapted to withstand the constant strain upon the binding, and consequently the back or the leaves are liable to be torn out of place in a comparatively short space of time, because the connection between said leaves and the back is generally too rigid to permit the constant turning of the leaves. Moreover, or-

dinary albums possess another objection' be of a wedge or curved shape in cross-section. 4

Instead of the strips I may employ a solid or hollow piece of wood, papier mach, or suitable material possessing the necessary de' gree of rigidity.

The hinges O are formed by covering strips of carton or pasteboard with leather, muslin, or other flexible material, and leaving projecting portions of leather or muslin, which are cemented or attached by other means to the rigid back piece and to the leaves of the book. Thus it will be perceived that there is a flexible connection of the leaves with the hinges, and a similar connection of the hinges with the rigid back.

The hinges gradually decrease in width from the outer to the inner leaves of the album or book, to conform with the position of the leaves when in an open state. The double hinges will permit the leaves to be thrown open somewhat in the manner of a folding fan, and each leaf will, when thrown open, lie flat, and this without subjecting the back ,to strain or pressure, in consequence whereof the tearing out of the back or separation from the leaves is prevented by the simple use of the double hinges and rigid back.

While my invention is particularly adapted for albums for photographic pictures, it may also'be applied to other. books of a similar nature having rigid or stiff leaves, and Where the back is subjected to considerable strain.

I do not wish to claim, broadly, an album in which each leaf is attached to an ordinary flexible back by means of. a double hinge for lessening the strain upon the binding at the back of the book. I confine myself to the combination of such double hinges with a rigid back which is of a wedge shape in crosssection, and is not subjected to the danger of being torn out, as is the case with the ordinary flexible back.

The employment of a rigid or solid back necessitates the use of double hinges so as to form a flexible connection between the hingestrips and the rigid back, and a similar connection between the hinge-strips and the leaves of the album.

As the rigid back retains its Wedge shape at all times, it will be necessary to make the double-hinge strips ot'difl'erent sizes or widths, so as to enable the leaves to open properly, and to lie flat when in such position. The

hinge-strips are, for this reason, made of a gradually-decreasing width from the outside leaves to the middle ones, as has been already described.

a Having thus described my invention, what I clainras'hew, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-- The album herein described, having a rigid or solid back piece of a wedge shape in crosssection, and a series of leaves provided with hinge-strips, gradually decreasingin width from the outer to the middle leaves, and flexi- ALBERT FOERSTE. Witnesses:

GERARD WENRESLAUS v. NAWROOKI, BERTHOLD B01. 

